DailyDirt: Missions To Mars

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

The future of manned spaceflight to other planets is a bit uncertain nowadays, but there are still plenty of people who are working on plans that could lead to people walking around on Mars before the end of the century. In the meantime, unmanned missions will have to suffice, but here are some quick links on traveling to Mars.

Reader Comments

Space Stuff

As to landing 40 to 80 tons on Mars then I always say they won't have a real answer until they have a real plan with a real problem. Since no one has a project to land this mass on Mars then that is why there is no budget to solve the problem.

Also it is never good to describe NASA in terms of current technology when every single space mission they do leads to implementing new technology.

Yes it would be interesting if SpaceX can make Mars first but their estimates are normally far too generous even if they get their in the end. The real first goal of commercial space should be a free return trip around the Moon.

NASA ix usually flying worms or some small creatures. Most interesting is that they don't take their astronauts beyond a six month ISS stay.

Re: Space Stuff

I understand there are several major issues standing in the way of a human journey to Mars and back.

1) muscle atrophy and bone loss - Either artificial gravity or a lot of working out. Landing would otherwise be problematic.

2) high energy particles and radiation - humans would need to seek shelter if hit by a storm. Said shelter would probably be lead based and small due to weight restrictions. Lack of exercise would become an issue, see number one.

3) fuel for return trip - need easily obtained resources and refining equipment on Mars for making fuel. Should send the equipment first via robot.

Re: Space Stuff

The impact on a human crew would be less if the journey didn’t take so long. I understand a conventional “coasting” trajectory with thrust burns only at the beginning and end would take something like 8 months. But continuously-accelerating-and-decelerating ion propulsion could cut this down to a month. That should help a lot.

Re: Re: Space Stuff

They have made Argon Plasma Engines to move crew and cargo more quickly (and the ISS) but the problem is the 1+Megawatt power requirements. Get some real high power and you can then use an array to cruise the solar system.

Currently they plan to use one with large solar arrays to move large cargo mass between Earth orbit and Luna orbit. It would take weeks on pulsed battery charge thrusting but it is very efficient.

Re: Space Stuff

Naturally maneouvring into and out of low-Earth orbit in a timely fashion is going to require high-power thrusters. But that’s not what these ion rockets are designed for. They’re designed for much longer journeys, like getting to Mars.

Re: Re: Space Stuff

Actually one of the major problems is the landing.
With an atmosphere as thin as it is on Mars you cannot count on atmospheric friction to keep you from reaching terminal velocity.
As well as greatly reducing the effectiveness of parachutes.